Nova
Nova is a boy's name of Latin origin.
Meaning
New or bright star.
Origin and history
Nova is derived from the Latin word for 'new', also recognized as an astronomical term for a sudden bright star. Historically rare for boys, the name has seen a modern resurgence in the United States alongside other nature and space-themed names.
Popularity in the United States
3,227 babies in the United States have been named Nova since 1880. It ranks #2262 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #885.
States where it is most popular
- CA (18.9 %)
- TX (11 %)
- NY (9.6 %)
- FL (8.2 %)
- PA (5.6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 5 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 39 |
| 1920-1930 | 61 |
| 1930-1940 | 25 |
| 1940-1950 | 24 |
| 1950-1960 | 6 |
| 1960-1970 | 0 |
| 1970-1980 | 23 |
| 1980-1990 | 18 |
| 1990-2000 | 39 |
| 2000-2010 | 212 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,348 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,427 |
Famous people named Nova
- Nova Spivack: Entrepreneur, Futurist
Fun facts
- In astronomy, a nova is a nuclear explosion on a white dwarf star that causes a sudden dramatic brightening.
- While historically used predominantly for girls in recent years, Nova has also surged into the top 1,000 names for U.S. boys in the 2020s.